Travellers should be given more permanent sites across the county to stop them setting up on private land and leaving their rubbish behind, a leading borough councillor said today.
Councillor Malcolm Price, who represents Battlefield and Heathgates, made the comments after a group of travellers set up an unofficial campsite on private land at battlefields, near the A49, over the weekend.
A gipsy and travellers’ needs assessment has revealed Shropshire needs about five more permanent sites by 2012.
Mr Price said: “Under the planning system, we have to identify proper sites for travellers around the county.
“There are travellers sites around the county all ready where people can come and stop and use the facilities.
“They are far better to look after. The gipsy liaison officer can then visit regularly.”We have to identify far more sites around the county for these travellers to go to through the local development frame work.
“Sites are easier to monitor and control.”
Roy Jones, Shropshire County Council’s gipsy liaison officer, said: “We recently carried out the gypsy and traveller needs assessment and by 2012, we have to have in place 53 more pitches for families.
“It would be one pitch per family so we are probably looking at five more sites.”
He added that he had received no complaints about the travellers at Battlefield.
He added: “We have received no complaints. I visited on Friday.
“I gave out some bin bags for rubbish but it was clean and tidy.”
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